star wars missiles may be station in the UK
Sueddeutsche/heraldsun (re-entitled) | 11.10.2003 11:05 | Anti-militarism | Technology
US 'mulls Iran defence missiles'
From correspondents in Berlin
10oct03
THE US government is considering stationing defensive missiles in a number of European countries against a potential attack from Iran, Germany's Sueddeutsche newspaper reports.
The daily quotes a high-ranking US diplomat as saying the Americans want to develop a defensive missile network with Europeans, but doubted whether a deal could be reached quickly by NATO.
Because of these concerns, Washington may pursue bilateral agreements with individual European countries for the deployment, in 2006, of anti-ballistic systems in exchange for economic aid, the Sueddeutsche said.
The diplomat acknowledged that such an approach could lead to new tensions with some European countries following the rift over the US-led Iraq war, the report says.
US defence policy specialist Benjamin Schreer of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs told the newspaper that Romania and Bulgaria could be the "first choices" for such agreements with the US.
The US military last month unveiled an upgraded Patriot anti-missile system in South Korea designed to thwart a missile blitz from North Korea, whom it has accused along with Iran of developing nuclear weapons.
Sources told the Sueddeutsche that Washington was concerned because Iran was developing a satellite program and argued that if Tehran could send satellites into space, it could probably fire intercontinental missiles.
The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has given Iran until the end of October to produce a detailed list of its nuclear-related equipment, cease uranium enrichment and sign an additional protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty allowing tougher inspections.
A failure by Iran to meet the IAEA deadline could see it declared in violation of the treaty, leading to possible sanctions from the UN Security Council.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,7516405%5E1702,00.html
From correspondents in Berlin
10oct03
THE US government is considering stationing defensive missiles in a number of European countries against a potential attack from Iran, Germany's Sueddeutsche newspaper reports.
The daily quotes a high-ranking US diplomat as saying the Americans want to develop a defensive missile network with Europeans, but doubted whether a deal could be reached quickly by NATO.
Because of these concerns, Washington may pursue bilateral agreements with individual European countries for the deployment, in 2006, of anti-ballistic systems in exchange for economic aid, the Sueddeutsche said.
The diplomat acknowledged that such an approach could lead to new tensions with some European countries following the rift over the US-led Iraq war, the report says.
US defence policy specialist Benjamin Schreer of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs told the newspaper that Romania and Bulgaria could be the "first choices" for such agreements with the US.
The US military last month unveiled an upgraded Patriot anti-missile system in South Korea designed to thwart a missile blitz from North Korea, whom it has accused along with Iran of developing nuclear weapons.
Sources told the Sueddeutsche that Washington was concerned because Iran was developing a satellite program and argued that if Tehran could send satellites into space, it could probably fire intercontinental missiles.
The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has given Iran until the end of October to produce a detailed list of its nuclear-related equipment, cease uranium enrichment and sign an additional protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty allowing tougher inspections.
A failure by Iran to meet the IAEA deadline could see it declared in violation of the treaty, leading to possible sanctions from the UN Security Council.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,7516405%5E1702,00.html
Sueddeutsche/heraldsun (re-entitled)